Engine replacement cost: shop vs. mobile mechanic
Engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine): estimated U.S. average labor cost at a repair shop and with a mobile mechanic. Labor only; parts not included. Estimates, not quotes.
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimate for your state or city →
What the estimate covers
Labor to remove and install the engine only; the engine itself, fluids, gaskets and programming are parts/extra. V6, AWD and tight engine bays take longer. Some engines (for example certain Hyundai/Kia 2.0L/2.4L Theta II) have recalls or extended warranty coverage: check your VIN with the dealer before paying.
Labor hours used: 8–16 h, our own editorial estimate (not taken from a licensed labor guide).
Problem pages that use this estimate
Sourced owner-reported problems on Mechanic Notes where this is the usual repair:
- 2010 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine failure
- 2010 Subaru Forester: Engine failure
- 2011 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine failure
- 2011 Hyundai Sonata: Engine seized
- 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Blown engine
- 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine seized
- 2012 Hyundai Sonata: Engine seized
- 2012 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up
- 2013 Hyundai Sonata: Engine seized
- 2013 Subaru Forester: Complete engine failure
- 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine blown
- 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Seized engine
- 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized
- 2015 Subaru Forester: Blown engine
- 2016 Ford Edge: Engine light on coolant in the cylinder
- 2017 Ford Edge: Coolant leak into cylinder
- 2017 Ford Edge: Cracked head
- 2017 Ford Fusion: Coolant leak into the cylinders
- 2017 Nissan Pathfinder: Sludged engine
- 2018 Chevrolet Cruze: Engine failure
- 2018 Ford Edge: Antifreeze leaking into engine
- 2018 Ford Edge: Blown engine
- 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine
- 2018 Ford Fusion: Coolant leaking into the engine
- 2019 Ford Fusion: Coolant intrusion cracked short block
- 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
How these estimates work
- Labor hours (Mechanic Notes estimate): each job has our own editorial "typical labor hours" range. Real times depend on the vehicle, engine and condition, and are not taken from any licensed labor guide.
- Shop labor rate (assumption): $100–$139/hour, the band where about half of surveyed U.S. general repair shops put their average labor rate (PartsTech / OEC U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey (about 700 shops, Sept 2025), as reported by Ratchet+Wrench), scaled by your area's mean wage for automotive service technicians divided by the U.S. mean ($27.13/h; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3023; verify on bls.gov). States and metros without wage data use the next-wider area.
- Average shop cost = typical hours × estimated shop rate. The headline number uses the middle of both ranges (or a job’s stated typical hours, where the usual job sits near the low end); the range uses low hours × low rate to high hours × high rate. Rounded to $5.
- Average mobile mechanic cost = shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium: travel and convenience are built in). This is a default assumption, not a survey result.
- Parts are not included. Parts prices vary too much by vehicle and brand to estimate honestly here; price parts separately.
Every job and area: repair cost table · estimates.json · repair cost estimator.
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